As far as the first day of the season, it was a first.
I had picked my neighbor up after work so that we could hunt his grandfathers farm. I had put the small pack in the truck, knowing that this hunt would only last about 30 minutes to an hour at the most. We had pulled into the back fields to where his grandfather has some small corn fields. His corn is only about two foot up at this point. So we set up in the tree line with the decoys in the corn spread out 8 to 10 feet apart. We could hear the crow all around us. So I jumped in with the Gibson and started calling. A few birds came in but with the over hanging trees it made it impossible to get a shot. All of the sudden I picked up a bird coming in and dropping fast. The bird was dropping so fast I just stood there and watch him. Thinking that my neighbor was going to shoot but with his view he never spotted the bird. I am still watching this bird come in. The bird is about 15 yards from me and I still have not lifted my gun. I am standing in shock. One reason is that I just used my hand call to call in a bird. Which I have had real problems with. The other is , as I am standing there I am thinking that this bird is going to land in my spread of decoys. Right up to the point of the bird is cupped up, landing gear down and fully committed to land. I figure that my neighbor is not going to shoot. I pull up and shot the crow about two foot off of the ground. From where I was standing I had a clean shot to where I would not hit any corn plants. Smoked the bird. My neighbor's eyes were bugged out of his head. He nor I could not believe what had just happened. A crow called in and trying to land in a decoy spread. How many times does that happen ? Probably less than not. Most folks would have shot the bird way before of dropping the landing gear. The rest of the evening was a bust and I really could not have cared less. My neighbor had a great time and I had seen something that I had never heard of before.
Have had them land on the ground a few times but not often. Now landing in trees is pretty common. Either way, they normally end up in the decoy spread!
-- Edited by Elkhunter on Thursday 7th of June 2012 03:49:45 PM
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I hunt therefore I am!
If you are not stepping forward, you are stepping backwards. Time stands still no for No Man.
Glad y'all got to get out again. It is funny how they act sometimes. We have had them try to land on several occasions. It usually doesn't work out so well for them here either! lol
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
I get them to land or very close to landing before shoot every time I hunt one of my best spots...........I shot my first triple ever this year, and they were tucked tight cupped to land, and were about a foot off the ground when I started shooting.....
TYpical when things are green and cover is heavy. I've had crows at this time land 15 feet over my head without a clue I'm there. Some of the most challenging shooting of the season IMO, lot's of fun but TBC's are never high. Thanks for sharing PP.
Ted
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Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
When my Crow Buster II was working, I had them landing beside him. (Actually it was that last hover and backpeddle that caught my side vision). I was afraid my pattern would also smoke Buster so I would wait until they lifted before shooting.....full load in the back 3 feet off the ground (straight level shot while kneeling). Awwww, the memories...soon Pat, soon.
Nothing wrong with a ground pound! Its not the most exciting way to shoot them but a dead bird nonetheless.
Its my favorite way to kill them.........when they are cupped totally commited and completely fooled by your decoy spread......thats how you know your decoys are set-up correctly, and look good........when you can get a bird as wary as a crow to land in them, you know you are on top of your game as far as decoying goes.....
Im not sure why but if I kill them 1 foot off the ground before they land it is WAY more satisfactory IMO than if I let them land and shoot them like a turkey.
I just like wingshooting I guess.
BH
PS - Puppypopper, glad you got out...keep the reports coming!
